Word Origin & History

pose "put in a certain position," late 14c., "suggest, propose, suppose, assume," from O.Fr. poser "put, place, propose," a term in debating, from L.L. pausare "to halt, rest, pause" (see pause). The O.Fr. verb acquired the sense of L. ponere "to put, place," by confusion of the similar stems. Sense of "to assume a certain attitude" is from 1850; the trans. sense (as an artist's model, etc.) is from 1859. The noun meaning "act of posing the body" is from 1818; its sense of "attitudinize" is from 1840. Poser "one who practices an affected attitude" is from 1881; revived in teen-ager slang 1980s.

Example Sentences for posed

Thus far she had done that nice old lady no harm, even though she posed as Nell Norcross.

Sometimes, he posed as a merchant, traveling the land with the caravans.

Later they posed in a church scene, in which a number of extra people, or "supers," were engaged to represent the congregation.

She has not posed for him, and yet she thought of him when she came out and settled herself.

He was often a gentleman himself: at all events he posed as such.

The posed ambassador replies, "Because they do, your Majesty."

The Prince with his staff are posed before Warsaw's magnificent cathedral.

“Miss West has posed to me as quite a weather prophet,” I said to the mate.

The troopers had crowded forward a trifle and, posed in lithe, nervous attitudes, were watching him like cats.

True, we never spoke together, for you posed as a stranger to my friends.